Disciplinary Proceedings, Disputes and Appeal

(This version supersedes all previous versions, words noted in italics are changes/amendments made at the AGM dated 04/12/2024).

It shall be a breach of the Rules for any Club or member of any Club to:

Violate the laws of the Game
Bet in any betting activity or accept any bets in any way related to any match
Accept or offer or attempt to offer, either directly or indirectly, any inducement with a view to influencing the result of a match
Do anything which is likely to bring the game or the League into disrepute
Fail to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion or to refrain from violence.

For the purposes of this sub-section “any Club” shall include not only members and players but also spectators and supporters.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to hear and decide upon all disciplinary matters relating to the League. This power may be delegated to a sub-committee. In the case of an emergency, this power may be exercised by the Chairman and General Secretary of the Executive Committee, provided the matter is always brought before the next meeting of the Executive Committee for ratification. Except in the case of an emergency, the Executive Committee shall adopt the following guidelines in connection with any disciplinary matters:

The Executive Committee shall receive and discuss any referee’s report at its next meeting. In the case of matches played during the week of a meeting, the report will be received and discussed at the next meeting. Written notice of the decision of the Executive Committee shall be given to the Club or member in accordance with sub-clause 6 below.
The Club or member may respond but, in the absence of any response, shall be deemed to accept the decision of the Executive Committee. If the Club or member denies the allegation or wishes to make representations as to the decision, they will be entitled to lodge a protest and attend the next Executive Committee meeting in order to do so.
Not more than two representatives of the Club or the member (accompanied by one representative) may attend the meeting of the Executive Committee at which the matter is to be discussed and may make representations and call evidence.
The procedure for the hearing before the Executive Committee shall be at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting who will ensure that the matter is dealt with fairly and expeditiously.
The meeting may, at the discretion of the Chairman, be adjourned.
The decision of the Executive Committee shall be notified to the Club or member within seven days of the meeting. Notification will be deemed to have taken place on the Monday following the meeting.

Any or all of the following penalties may be imposed, if deemed appropriate (see also League Rules):

A fine
A censure
Suspension either for a Club or a player, permanently or for a specific or stated period
The imposition of penalty points in accordance with the Appendix hereto
Other penalty or sanction as the Executive Committee shall deem reasonably fitting, including, without limitation, a written undertaking from the Club or member as to their future conduct.

Lodging a Protest

Any Club wishing to protest about the result of a match, the composition of the opposition team, against a sending off or a decision of the Executive Committee shall do so, in writing/by email, within 72 hours of the match or decision. Any such protest will be accompanied with a £30.00 fee and details of the grounds or reasons for the protest. In the absence of this fee, or reasonable grounds, the protest will not be considered. In the event of a protest in respect of the ‘bona fide’ address or a disciplinary matter concerning a player, the player will be expected to attend in person. A protest will not be considered in his absence. Failure of the player to attend will result in a doubling of the protest fee. No protest against a suspension will be considered where that suspension has been incurred under the points “totting up” procedure. The Executive Committee will consider all properly lodged protests, and their decision will be final and binding. Should a protest fail, then the protest fee will be forfeited and credited to League funds.

Appeals Procedure

If a protest about the imposition of any of the above penalties has been duly lodged, and a Club is still not satisfied with the decision the Executive Committee delivered on such a protest then the Club has a right to appeal to an independent Appeals Tribunal. The procedure for Appeal is detailed below.

The membership of the Appeals Tribunal Panel shall comprise the two permanent members elected at the League’s Annual General Meeting and one person nominated by each of the Clubs in the League at the Annual General Meeting.

Any appeal of a disciplinary decision of the Executive Committee shall be heard by an Appeals Tribunal of three persons namely:

One of the two permanent members and two other members chosen by lot.
(if both permanent members are unavailable or unwilling to attend) three other members chosen by lot.

No member of the Appeals Tribunal shall sit on an Appeal which involves the Club by which he was nominated.

Any Club or member may appeal against a disciplinary decision of the Executive Committee. There shall be no appeal against a booking by a referee nor a suspension where the player has accumulated the requisite number of disciplinary points. In the event of an appeal, any punishment imposed to prompt the appeal will be suspended, pending the outcome of the appeal.

The Appeals procedure shall be as follows:

The Club or member making the appeal (“the Appellant”) shall complete the Appeals form (Form 2) and deliver it to the General Secretary within 7 days of notification of the decision of the Executive Committee or the sending off (as the case may be).
The Appeals form will be accompanied by a payment of £50.00, without which the Appeal will be deemed to be invalid. If the appeal is upheld this fee will be refunded.
The Appeals form shall include a signed agreement on behalf of the Club or by the member confirming that it/he will abide by the decision of the Appeals Tribunal.
The General Secretary (acting as the clerk to the Appeals tribunal and not as General Secretary of the Executive Committee) will notify the Appellant of the date, time and place of the Appeal hearing and of his right to call evidence. The Executive Committee will also be entitled to be represented at and call evidence at the Appeal hearing. The Appeals Tribunal may re-hear evidence or arguments put before the Executive Committee. In the event of an appeal in respect of a disciplinary matter or query regarding the ‘bona fide’ address concerning a player, the player may attend in person or has the right to be represented by a friend.
No document shall be admissible as evidence at an Appeal hearing unless four copies have been delivered to the General Secretary (acting as clerk as above) at least 7 days before the Appeal hearing.
Procedure at the Appeal hearing shall be at the discretion of the Chairman of the Appeals Tribunal.
The parties shall be notified of the decision of the Appeals Tribunal as soon as practicably possible.

Subject to the availability of the nominated members, the Appeal hearing shall take place within 21 days of the notification of the decision which is the subject of the appeal.

Disciplinary Points Allocation

APPENDIX
A first caution in any season attracts a 6 point penalty.

The next caution in that season attracts an 8 point penalty.

A third caution in that season attracts a ten point penalty.

A dismissal attracts a 20 point penalty.

If a player is dismissed in a game for two cautionable offences, this attracts a 20-point penalty and the points value of the first caution in that game is not included in his penalty points total.

If, however, the second offence is deemed worthy of a straight dismissal, then the points value of the first caution in that game is added to his disciplinary record, plus 20 points for the dismissal

A total of 20 points means a ban. Serving a 1 match ban takes 20 points off your total and any points remaining are carried forward.

This means that after three bookings (6 + 8 + 10) a player can expect a ban with 4 points carried forward. His next booking will attract a 6 point penalty, giving him a total of 10 points, half way to his next ban.

In the League and Shield competitions, a player who is dismissed from the field of play will be automatically ineligible to play in the next League or Shield match. The Referee’s report/report from the Clubs will then be discussed at the next Executive Committee meeting in the normal way to see if any further punishment/sanction is warranted. The name of the offending player will be communicated to his next opponents by the General/Referee’s Secretary. A red card dismissal for a violent conduct/serious foul play offence or an incident of foul or abusive language towards a match official carries an automatic three-match suspension. A second red card dismissal in one season for the same type of offence will incur a four-match suspension. All match suspensions incurred for violent conduct/serious foul play/foul and abusive language towards a match official to be served with immediate effect for the three consecutive matches following the match when the offence took place (unless protest/appeal is lodged). i.e. will not wait until an Executive Committee meeting has taken place. Further sanctions may be applicable at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

In the Shield competition only – disciplinary points incurred in the League will not carry forward to the Shield competition. Two cautions in the Shield will incur a one-match suspension. A red card dismissal will mean a player is suspended for the next match. Further sanctions may be applicable at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Any ban not fulfilled during a playing season will be carried forward to be completed at the start of the next League season or Shield competition.

ALL points on a player’s disciplinary record will be removed at the end of the season (excluding suspensions not fulfilled as above) meaning they will start the following season on 0 points.